Dental Hygienist Scope of Practice Laws

Dental hygienists provide essential support for the oral health care system in the United States. State laws and regulations define which oral health treatments may or may not be performed by dental hygienists and often address where the treatments may be performed, under what supervision, and other requirements, such as licenses or education level. Many states also classify dental hygienists into groups based on those requirements. The licensing requirements of a dental hygienist may have an impact on their scope of practice, potential practice settings, or supervision requirements.